Gallery 2.2: Vessel Electronics

There are many aspects of a vessel that affect how efficiently or effectively it can catch fish. A tuna vessel that has a helicopter and multiple ancillary boats is more likely to find and catch more fish than a vessel without them. Likewise, using sophisticated electronic fishing technology (e.g., radar, echosounders, sonar, etc.) will improve a vessel’s chance of catching more fish. If your observer forms allow for such information to be noted, be sure to record the brand names and models of equipment used. In addition, land-based support staff who are in constant communication with the observer and the vessel-owning company can be a good resource: The staff will probably be aware of changes made to the vessel and can inform the observer before each trip. The land-based support staff can also be a source of data provision to the observer program.

Fishers use many strategies to identify schools of fish: some visual, some electronic. (Photo: SPC)

Looking for fish (Photo: Jeff Muir)

Many of the electronics used to find fish are located on the bridge. (Photo: SPC)

Examples of electronics found that can be found on the bridge (Photo: SPC)

Examples of sonar and depth sounder equipment (Photo: SPC)

Examples of Global Positioning System (GPS) units (Photo: SPC)

Examples of Track Plotter units (Photo: SPC)

Radio buoys (Photo: SPC)

Radio buoys with inclined antennae (which can reduce their detection by other vessels) (Photo: SPC)

Serpe-type, GPS-tracking radio buoys (Photo: SPC)

The general characteristics and gear involved with constant transmit (top), select call (middle, with select-call transmitter) and GPS-positioning (bottom, with GPS transceiver) radio buoys (Photo: SPC)